Germany has witnessed an ominous increase in anti-Muslim enmity in current years. This country boasts 81 million Muslims, making it the second-biggest Muslim community in Western Europe.
An attack by an assault rifle on a German mosque in the Saxony Anhalt region of Germany has triggered the latest anti-Muslim violence in Western Europe. Anadolu Agency, citing a police statement, stated that near Halle in central Germany, two individuals heard shots being fired near the Islamic Cultural Center. According to the police report, there were three bullets on the ground. However, there were not any casualties.
Eyewitnesses reported that a 55-year-old man set fire to the mosque as the witness had seen him from his house. The old man lived in an apartment nearby the mosque. Thus, the police found a gas pistol and a gun, noting that the inquiry was ongoing but the suspect didn’t have any criminal record earlier.
Meantime, Germany’s Islamic organization, the Central Council of Muslims via Twitter, condemned the shooting incident, stating, “Thankfully nobody was injured. Police are still investigating and interrogating. Anti-Muslim hatred and racism are not just in words,” It also pointed out that they have also reported similar attacks on the mosque in recent times adding that it was crucial to continue to collaborate and resolutely combat hostility towards Islam and anti-Semitism.
The attack occurs at a time in which Germany’s eastern region has been experiencing an increase of anti-Muslim hostility over the last few years. This was because of far-right groups and parties after a large number of refugees arrived in Europe. TRT World’s annual report shows that Germany has witnessed a continuous increase in the number of Muslims being convicted over the years. It reported at least 1,026 crimes against Muslims in 2020. This compares with 950 in 2019 and 910 for 2018.
The German situation represents the overall grim European situation, which includes rising hate crimes towards Muslims, which are fueled by Islamophobia. A current statement on Islamophobia in Europe asserted that hate crimes against Muslims have “worsened” over the past two years, if not to a tipping point.
Author: Huda Raza
Student of International Relations at National Defense University